Tuesday 22nd - Almost all 5023 again

Another very good day for the Painting and Prep team and the gradual transformation of TSO 5023, while more was done on SO 4798 and RMB 1876.

However with the rapidly approaching Diesel Gala, and it promises to be a good one with two guest diesels due to appear, time to begin setting up the Works ready for our visitors. I am very grateful to Keith for coming on board to help with what is now quite a large job. Today would be spent on activities that wouldn't inhibit normal working, such as constructing the barrier supports for the viewing area at the end of the Barn.

Time for a quick break while 3850 passes with the Cheltenham train.

Everything is out of the storage area and what can be assembled has now been done. Full setting up will be done on Thursday, when Keith has again offered to come in and help.

On now to progress with TSO 5023 and beginning with Richard who, having added the line tapes to the north end of the Cotswold side, is undercoating the toilet compartment window.

David is similarly undercoating at the south end.

Alex had a brrak from work and came in today to helo with the undercoating. The first job, painting the gutter panel in madder. Then onto what windows remained to be done - Bob had previously made a good start on these.

Ainsley got going with the Cotswold side roof;  just over half has already been done. The dust was vacuumed, and then the metal scraped and wire brushed where needed. The gutter was then vacuumed again.

Richard began top coating the north end in gloss black.

Maurice continued to give the south end a good clean up, adding more red oxide where needed. This end required a lot more work.

Dave and Roger clearing up after the 1100 tea break.

Pam had arrived and added more varnish to several items, the internal window frame bases destined for TSO 4867. Keith added another coat of gloss brown to the lamp shades from SO 4798.

In the Woodshop Robert has yet another internal window base set up in the jig.

A new side section has been marked out and will be cut from this piece of hardwood.

Robert doublechecks the new side section with the one already made.

In the Workshop Roger is adding more filler to the Cotswold side of SO 4798. There is so much to do on the bodysides of this coach.

In the Barn Dave has been doing a grand job sanding the Cotswold side of RMB 1876. It is likely this coach will be the next one in the Paintshop to be repainted in crimson and cream.

2807 passes with the Cheltenham train.

With the windows finished Alex now moves on to the central section panels.

Richard has moved on to taping the lines on the main north part of the Cotswold side.

Ainsley vacuuming the next section of the roof.

There's no hanging around with Alex. The central cream section has been completed and he is now well into undercoating the bottom section.

Pam has moved on to top coating the north end, continuing where Richard had finished.

Richard, having taped up the lines, now undercoats the first compartment window.

Job done and doesn't it look good. Just the south end door and corner to tape up and undercoat.

The Cotswold side of the roof now ready for wiping down with thinners and painting.

Alex, having finished with 5023, now checks out the bolts used for the brake blocks on the Open C wagon. New ones are required to replace those in poor condition.

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And now a bit from Wednesday when Jeff and Phil went in. Many thanks to Phil for the photos.

Jeff continued the cream undercoating on the Cotswold side of 5023.

Two photos of 5023's roof with the cleaning up of the central section completed, and ready for wiping down and painting. Sealant will be put around all the cowls.

Monday 21st - Rain Stopped Play

 The Washing Team was short of two key players today, so here are Chris and Tim, and evading the camera is David.

This wasn't the plan but we found the carriages stabled like this.

It was fortunate in one way, as the carriage with the open door had dirty streak marks down one of the panels. As it was on the platform they could be cleaned off.

Elsewhere today were Greg, Jane, John M, John S, Kath, Lynn, Nigel, Rich and Steve.

Saturday was a Fish'n'Chip, so a few dead chips were recovered in rake 1.

The special today was a sticky sweet well and truly stuck to the floor. One of the Toddington painting team kindly offered me a scraper so that I could remove it (under a seat of course!)

As David had left I finished helping Chris and Tim wash the Malvern side of rake 2. But for the first time in months we had to shelter during a brief (but heavy) shower. We were then able to complete that side.

Saturday 19th - A cunning plan

 A cunning plan was agreed in the morning to be put in action in the afternoon, but first on with the rest of the day's activities. 

First stop was Upholstery, Laura started with a major cutting session, red chain link suggests it's for the DFR.

James was back on his end of 4798 continuing the rebuild of the Malvern side corner.

Ably assisted by Andy, here another patch gets welded into place. 

Sticking with the metal work and onto 1876, Vic was busy on the North end cutting rotten bits out... 

While on the South end Alan was finishing welding new bits in.

With the toilet being taken apart in 1876, Phil overhauls the cistern system. 

Later on Ken was up on the North end, looks like preparations for taking the gangway off, while Dave carried on the general sanding on the Cotswold side.

Work continues in the weedkilling wagon; Ian and Andy make a start on de-rusting and priming the body framing. 

I only captured Robert on the woodworking side today, doing some more routing of window frames. 

George continued his work on 4798 surface prep. 

Rather remiss of me I only photographed Maurice working on 5023 cleaning up the South end. Dave, Bob and Martin were also in action, taping up and starting livery undercoating.

My mission for the day was to make some inroads into finishing the signwriting on both the Mica and the Open C. The Mica needed the big G W on the Malvern side doing. 

And the open C needed everything on the Malvern side.

I also fitted the cast plates for both wagons that Pam had painted up during the week. 

Dave was in his element here conducting a pleasingly filled behind the scenes tour. 

Clive and Kevin were extracting the rest of the RBr seats from storage now the saloon is finished. 

Soon be sat down eating bacon rolls in here! 

Prep was in full swing for the diesel gala next week, Paul captured Jenny mopping either the 3rd or 4th rake, and I got embroiled in some shunting to get things in the right place.

Now for the cunning plan. The RBr needed a steam heat test, and that meant pilfering a steam engine. Could the loco that normally comes off the back of the train the diesel takes over be borrowed? Yes it could. 

After some merriment about forgetting to uncouple at Toddington and being dragged all the way to Winchcombe, 2807 chuffed into the yard and hooked up. 

A couple of minor leaks to attend to, not unexpected, and a few other issues to resolve, but nothing too frightening.

Sunday was a day of guarding behind 3850, with very changeable weather, sunshine and heavy showers in close succession! But all good news for lineside conditions following last weekend's thankfully brief steam ban.